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Lost Dubai diver's friends raise $55k for search

The Associated Press

Updated:
01/06/2014 11:37:38 AM EST

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—Friends of an experienced Algerian diver who went missing 32 kilometers (20 miles) off Dubai have raised $55,000 to assist rescue teams in their search after he disappeared while spearfishing.

Adel Ait-Ghezala, a doctoral student at the American University in Washington, went missing Wednesday afternoon after he went free diving with friends in the Persian Gulf.

Family friend Abdullah Al-Arian said Monday that the money was raised in two days through a crowd-funding website. Friends say the donations will be used for volunteers to charter boats and helicopters for a more expansive search.